Pets and holidays don't always mix well

Whether your pet is a cat, dog, prairie dog or something else, be mindful of their safety during the holidays.

The city of Amarillo recently sent some tips on keeping pets safe while their humans are making merry.

Some of the precautions to take to keep pets from having too much fun with holiday decorations and food include making sure they can't topple the Christmas tree, eat its needles or chomp on ornaments by putting up a barrier or banning them from the room.

Other plants can also be harmful, so keep holly, mistletoe and poinsettias, which can be poisonous, out of reach, according to the news release.

And still on the subject of eating, don't forget to keep chocolate, alcohol and caffeine only on the human menu.

Lastly, put a lot of thought into whether to get a new pet during the season. There are a lot of distractions and stress for humans and the animals they love.

For more information, call the Amarillo-Panhandle Humane Society at 806-373-1716 or Amarillo Animal Control at 806-378-9032.